Student and Community Partner Perspectives on a University Service-Learning Program

Author

Alexis I. Ehrhardt

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Campus Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies

Department

Leadership Studies

Committee Chair

Selden, Sally C.

Committee Member

Polloway, Edward.

Committee Member

Mayhew, Mary Ann A.

Abstract

This dissertation examines the benefits of service-learning by investigating student and community partner perspectives of six specific benefits of the service-learning program at a small, liberal arts university in southern Virginia. Students benefited from service-learning in a number of ways, including enhanced academic learning, strengthened interpersonal skills, and the application of knowledge and service. Results did not support a fourth research question, and found that in just one of three semesters, students in service-learning courses earned higher GPAs than students not enrolled in service-learning courses. Data will be used to recruit more faculty to adopt service-learning as a pedagogy, to attract more students to service-learning courses, to increase the level of collaboration between the university and community partners regarding course design, and to assist faculty in designing and improving courses based on the benefits to partners that are deemed most significant.

Rights

Release the entire work for Lynchburg College electronic access only for 1 year, after this time release the work for electronic access worldwide.

Recommended Citation

Ehrhardt, Alexis I., "Student and Community Partner Perspectives on a University Service-Learning Program" (2016). Graduate Dissertations and Theses. 19.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/etd/19